Even when I was a little girl, I remember going to the Museum of Modern Art. I think my parents took me there once or twice. And what I really remember is the design collection.

In this quote, Barbara Kruger, an influential artist and designer, reflects on her early experiences with art and design, specifically recalling visits to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). She remembers her visits as a child and highlights the impact of the design collection at the museum, which left a lasting impression on her. Kruger’s recollection reveals the formative role that exposure to design and art played in shaping her creative interests from a young age.

Kruger’s mention of her parents taking her to MoMA suggests that her early exposure to modern art was influenced by her family, offering a glimpse into how artistic environments can shape one’s creative development. Her focus on the design collection indicates a specific interest in how functional objects and aesthetic design can communicate ideas, reflecting her later work, which often combines art and graphic design.

The quote also highlights how a visit to a place like the Museum of Modern Art can spark a deep connection with design as a medium for expression. For Kruger, it wasn't just the traditional art pieces that captured her attention but the way in which design objects, like those in MoMA’s collection, spoke to her and influenced her perspective on visual culture. This early exposure likely contributed to her later exploration of text-based art and graphic design in her own career.

Ultimately, Kruger’s words emphasize the importance of early exposure to the arts and how it can ignite a lifelong interest in design and creative expression. Her memory of MoMA’s design collection shows how museum collections can serve as powerful sources of inspiration, influencing artists like Kruger to incorporate design into their work in unique and thought-provoking ways.